Fashion trends today seem just about as arbitrary as a tropical storm, crashing into whatever they please, seemingly without reason. As of late, the arbiters of style have found a new interest: workwear.  Brands like Carhartt, Levis, and Dickies can be seen en masse in the halls of Boulder High and the streets of Boulder. These brands weren’t created for the latte-sipping hipster, though; they were built on the backs of blue-collar Americans. For decades, they provided the rugged durability steelworkers, coal miners, construction workers, and cowboys needed to get through the day. As is the fundamental principle of economics, a price increase comes with this increase in demand. As price increases, it becomes prohibitive for the individuals who made these companies what they are today, blue-collar workers. So the question must be raised: by buying workwear brands, are we doing a disservice to the laborers of America?

Let’s focus specifically on Carhartt, a staple in the workwear space founded in 1889 in Detroit, a hub of industry. With its new consumer base, the company has seen price increases: according to consumer data, most products such as beanies, tee shirts, and hoodies have increased by a margin of $3-5 in recent years, a 2-5% margin of profit value. This is admittedly a minimal increase, especially with the impact of inflation. However, to look at price solely is a superficial analysis. Carhartt was once a brand that prided itself on American manufacturing; recently, though, they have moved almost all manufacturing to India and China. Even high-priced items like their iconic Detroit jacket are no longer made domestically. A drop in production costs and manufacturing quality without a price decline is a clear detriment. And while the typical hipster might not notice the dip in durability, workers who depend on their clothing to hold up to the strains of their job do. We further inflate demand by thrusting these brands into the sphere of pop fashion, and in doing so, we do a disservice to those who use these clothes as tools of their trade.

Am I suggesting that we entirely boycott buying workwear? Certainly not. The cool factor of a weathered pair of Levi’s or a chore jacket is undeniable. Some solutions don’t require inflating direct product demand. Buying second-hand apparel has a lesser effect on prices as companies don’t directly supply these clothes. Not only does buying second-hand keep prices low, but it is far more sustainable than buying new clothes, especially because these garments are designed to last. So do the working men and women of America a favor and stay away from purpose-built brands for fashion.